There is So Much to Love in a Laugh

There is So Much to Love in a Laugh Samantha Margot

My mother’s laugh is grand, like riptides dueling in deep waters before slapping against the shore. Loud and sure, it expands till the corners of the room echo it back.

Comfort.

Of my few soulmates, this one laughs like she’s surprised she made the sound. Breaths come quickly, hands raised to cover puckered lips and bright teeth. Her laughter is windy, kicking up leaves in a hurry. Hearing her laugh strikes a chord deep in my chest. Joyous, hysterical almost.

Love.

For all that my brother’s outward appearance has changed, his laugh remains the same. Sarcastic, biting, he laughs with his body. Cheeks light up, wiry frame shaking, long fingers comb through an Elvis Presley-inspired twist. His laugh stings like flurries of snow hitting frozen cheeks, somehow still able to pierce through layers of cold

Intention.

Whereas my brother’s looks have changed immeasurably, this friend has remained the same in so many ways. Previously, I had never met someone whose laughter startled me. Clawing its way out of her throat, scratchy while shaking off the rust, a branch creaking to life in early Spring, a sleeping giant waking for the first time in a millennium. Now her laughter comes easier and stays for longer, a warm hand in dead winters, and a soft breeze in sweltering summers.

Awareness.

This person is the forest embodied. They laugh like lilac trees rustling in the wind. Something to treasure; soil coating my hands, a breath of fresh air in stifling heat. Their smile is all teeth, slanted eyes, and spiked hair. When air leaves them in long bursts, shoulders are unhunched, and I am suddenly aware of them towering over me. Their cackle roots itself in their feet and spine, bringing confidence with it.

Home.

My other half laughs with abandon. Hers is a laugh learned to be unrestrained. Like an earthquake, it is an expression of life and reinvention; her laugh is soaked in energy. A slow rumble before dancing fingers, slipping glasses, and wild gasps. To see her laugh is fantastical, a reminder of appreciation and inspiration.

Safe Haven.

What do I know about you now that I’ve seen your face and body language change like so? Laughter reveals things about people in all the little ways. Inviting and, oftentimes, eye-opening, it communicates an understanding that words cannot possibly convey. Beauty exists in all the throaty croaks, cackles, rumbles, and roars; there is so much to love in all your laughs.